Method and system for displaying an ultrasound image in response to screen size

ABSTRACT

Ultrasound images are adjusted according to the size of the display area available to display them, so that image detail is displayed with a large enough physical size to discern comfortably. A translation ratio is determined for translating the physical distance traversed by the ultrasound signals of an ultrasound images to a corresponding physical distance on a screen of the display device. If the ratio is not below a threshold, the image is displayed in full. If the ratio is below the threshold, the image is cropped, optionally scaled, and displayed in the available area. Scaling and cropping may be based on window size and threshold window size. The parameters of the ultrasound scan may be controlled based on the scaling, cropping, or available screen size. User interface features may be displayed on the screen depending on how much area is available when the image is displayed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to displaying ultrasound images. In particular,it relates to systems and methods for adapting the display of anultrasound image to the size of an application window displayed on ascreen.

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound is a useful, non-invasive imaging technique capable ofproducing real time images of internal structures within tissue.Ultrasound imaging has an advantage over X-ray imaging in thatultrasound imaging does not involve ionizing radiation.

Some mobile ultrasound scanners such as app-based ultrasound scannersrequire an add-on device with a screen that may act as both as a displayand a control device. Examples of these add-on devices are mobilephones, tablets, laptops, and/or desktop computers. The screen size onthese add-on devices can vary greatly. For example, the screen cansometimes be small (e.g., on a smartphone), which means that thedisplayed ultrasound image is correspondingly small and potentiallydifficult to read. On the other hand, the screen size can also berelatively large (e.g., on a tablet), such that if the ultrasound imageis made to fit the larger screen, the ultrasound image may appearpixelated and also potentially difficult to read.

There is therefore a need for a way to display an ultrasound image thatis suited to the size of the screen, and more particularly to the sizeof an application window displayed on the screen, such that the userdoes not need to manually scale the ultrasound image.

The above background information is provided to reveal informationbelieved by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the presentinvention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should beconstrued, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior artagainst the present invention. The embodiments discussed herein mayaddress and/or ameliorate one or more of the aforementioned drawbacksidentified above. The foregoing examples of the related art andlimitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and notexclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent tothose of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and astudy of the drawings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention andshould not be construed as restricting the scope of the invention in anyway.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representing a first process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representing a second process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4-8 are schematic diagrams of a display device with varying screensizes displaying an ultrasound image, according to various embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representing a third process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the various steps in thethird process when displaying a shallow ultrasound image on a screen inthe portrait orientation, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the various steps in thethird process when displaying a curvilinear ultrasound image on a screenin the portrait orientation, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the various steps in thethird process when displaying to a curvilinear ultrasound image on ascreen in the landscape orientation, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A. Glossary

The term “application window” may refer to the area on a display screenthat is available for displaying an ultrasound image by an applicationrunning on the device that hosts the screen.

The term “complete ultrasound image” refers to a full ultrasound imagewithout any cropping, or in some cases with minor cosmetic cropping.

The term “depth” when relating to an ultrasound image refers to ameasure of how far into the structure being scanned (e.g., tissue or aphantom) a given ultrasound image shows.

The term “module” can refer to any component in this invention and toany or all of the features of the invention without limitation. A modulemay be a software, firmware or hardware module, and may be located, forexample, in the scanner or a display device.

The term “network” can include both a mobile network and data networkwithout limiting the term's meaning, and includes the use of wireless(e.g. 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, WiFi™, WiMAX™, Wireless USB (Universal SerialBus), Zigbee™, Bluetooth™ and satellite), and/or hard wired connectionssuch as local, internet, ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line),DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), cable modem, T1, T3, fiber-optic, dial-upmodem, television cable, and may include connections to flash memorydata cards and/or USB memory sticks where appropriate. A network couldalso mean dedicated connections between computing devices and electroniccomponents, such as buses for intra-chip communications.

The term “operator” may refer to the person that is operating anultrasound scanner (e.g., a clinician, medical personnel, a sonographer,ultrasound student, ultrasonographer and/or ultrasound technician).

The term “processor” can refer to any electronic circuit or group ofcircuits that perform calculations, and may include, for example, singleor multicore processors, multiple processors, an ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit), and dedicated circuits implemented, forexample, on a reconfigurable device such as an FPGA (Field ProgrammableGate Array). A processor may perform the steps in the flowcharts andsequence diagrams, whether they are explicitly described as beingexecuted by the processor or whether the execution thereby is implicitdue to the steps being described as performed by code or a module. Theprocessor, if comprised of multiple processors, may be located togetheror geographically separate from each other. The term includes virtualprocessors and machine instances as in cloud computing or localvirtualization, which are ultimately grounded in physical processors.

The term “scan conversion” refers to the construction of an ultrasoundmedia, such as a still image or a video, from lines of ultrasound scandata representing echoes of ultrasound signals. Scan conversion mayinvolve converting beams and/or vectors of acoustic scan data which arein polar (R-theta) coordinates to cartesian (X-Y) coordinates.

The term “system” when used herein, and not otherwise qualified, refersto a system for adapting display of an ultrasound image to a screen orin an application window displayed on the screen, the system being thesubject of the present invention.

The term “ultrasound media” herein refers to an ultrasound video or astill ultrasound image. A frame of an ultrasound video may be referredto as a “still”. An ultrasound video may be live or pre-recorded, or maybe computer generated, e.g. for training purposes.

B. Exemplary Embodiments

Referring to FIG. 1, a first exemplary process is shown for displayingan ultrasound image (or any other ultrasound media) in an applicationwindow displayed on a screen, in which the way the ultrasound image isdisplayed depends on the size of the application window. In someexamples, the display device in which the screen is present is onlycapable of displaying a single application window at a time, and hencethe size and shape of the screen are the same as for the singleapplication window. In other embodiments, the display device is capableof displaying multiple application windows at the same time, and hencethe application window for the display of ultrasound images may besmaller than the size of the screen. In some cases, the applicationwindow may have a decorative border displayed around it or within it; ineither of these cases the application window may be considered to be thearea within the border.

In step 10, it is determined by the display device whether the depth dof the ultrasound image is greater than a threshold depth D. If thedepth of the ultrasound image is less than the threshold depth D (the‘N’ branch at step 10), then the ultrasound image may be scaled, in step12, so that the width of the ultrasound image matches the width w of theapplication window. Then, in step 14, the complete ultrasound image maybe displayed in the application window. Optionally, instead of scalingthe width of the ultrasound image to match the full width w of theapplication window, the ultrasound image may be scaled so that its widthis smaller than the width w of the application window.

In some embodiments, before displaying the complete ultrasound image, itmay be cropped for cosmetic purposes while still generally maintainingsubstantially the full amount of image data available in the ultrasoundimage. If this cosmetic cropping occurs, the resulting image may stillbe referred to as a complete ultrasound image.

Referring still to FIG. 1, if the depth of the ultrasound image isgreater than the threshold depth D (the ‘Y’ branch at step 10), then thedisplay device may determine the size of the application windowavailable for displaying the ultrasound image. The size of theapplication window may be represented by different criteria. Forexample, these criteria may include one or more of: a number of pixelsalong a long edge of the application window, a number of pixels along ashort edge of the application window, a total number of pixels of theapplication window, an aspect ratio, an orientation, a physical lengthof the application window, a physical width of the application window, aphysical area of the application window, and/or any other representationthat directly or indirectly allows for determination of the size of theapplication window.

The size of the application window may be determined by determining asingle parameter of the application window, and it may suffice todetermine only the width or only the height of the window, for example.For example, a vertical dimension of the application window may bedetermined, when the application window is in a portrait orientation. Ifthe aspect ratio of the application window is known, or within a certaintolerable range, then determination of the vertical dimension may besufficient to determine the size of the application window.

Once the size of the application window is determined, it can becategorized as ‘large’ or ‘small’ for the purposes of the exampleembodiment of FIG. 1. The various criteria noted above to determineapplication window size can, either individually or in combination, beused in this categorization. In some embodiments, for a given criteria,there may be a threshold value which separates the large screen sizesfrom the small screen sizes. For example, if the criteria used fordetermining application window size is a physical length of theapplication window (e.g., a threshold length of the screen set between15-25 cm), then a threshold length above a given length may beconsidered large and an application window size below the thresholdlength may be considered small.

In step 16, if it is determined that the size of the application windowis large, then the ultrasound scanner may be instructed to acquire theultrasound scan data using a first set of scanning parameters (step 18).This first set of parameters may be configured to generate an image thathas extra detail that can be seen on the large application window size.In step 20, the complete ultrasound image may then be displayed in thelarge application window.

If, in step 16, it is determined that the size of the application windowis small (e.g., that at least one of the criteria than define the sizeof the window is below a threshold value), then the ultrasound scannermay be configured to acquire the ultrasound scan data using a second setof scanning parameters (step 22). The second set of parameters maygenerally acquire images that have less detail, since a smallerapplication window size may have less ability to display the full amountof detail that can potentially be viewable on a large application windowsize. In step 24, a cropped ultrasound image may then be displayed inthe application window.

As shown in the method of FIG. 1, different acts are taken to adjust forthe size of the application window that the ultrasound image is beingdisplayed in. For example, in one instance, a first set of scanparameters may be used for acquiring ultrasound images that are to bedisplayed on a large application window size (step 18), whereas a secondset of scan parameters (different from the first set) may be may be usedto acquire ultrasound images that are to be displayed on a small windowsize (step 22). In another instance, the complete ultrasound image isdisplayed on a large application window size, whereas a cropped image isdisplayed on a small application window size.

With respect to the different sets of scan parameters, since theultrasound images may be displayed at different sizes on the differentsized application windows, it may be more efficient to acquire less scandata for the ultrasound images to be displayed on the physically smallerapplication window. This is because the higher resolution scan data maynot contribute to the viewable quality of the displayed ultrasound imageon the smaller application window size, and would therefore beredundant.

As an example, the first set of scanning parameters (used in act 18) mayinclude more scan lines and/or a higher frame rate than the second setof scanning parameters (used in act 22). Additionally or alternatively,the first set of scanning parameters (used in act 18) may involvepassing the acquired ultrasound scan data through an enhanced smoothingfilter, whereas the second set of scanning parameters (used in act 22)may involve passing the acquired ultrasound scan data through a regularsmoothing filter. Additionally or alternatively, the first set ofscanning parameters (used in act 18) may involve passing the acquiredultrasound scan data through an enhanced speckle reduction process,whereas the second set of scanning parameters (used in act 22) mayinvolve passing the acquired ultrasound scan data through a regularspeckle reduction process.

In a further example, the pixel sampling rate may additionally oralternatively be modified when switching between the first set of scanparameters and the second set of scan parameters. For example, the firstset of scanning parameters (used in act 18) may involve a higher pixelsampling rate to cover the larger number of pixels along the axialdirection on a larger application window size, whereas the second set ofscanning parameters (used in act 22) may use a lower pixel sampling rateto cover the fewer number of pixels along the axial direction on asmaller application window size (presuming a larger screen has acorresponding higher pixel density). For example, if the pixel samplingrate is one hundred ‘100’ samples per centimeter of imaged tissue in thefirst set of scan parameters, the pixel sampling rate may take fifty‘50’ samples per centimeter of imaged tissue in the second set of scanparameters (or another number that is proportionately smaller based onthe proportionate reduction in the screen size).

Another reason to reduce the pixel sampling rate for a less pixel-densescreen is to avoid aliasing artifacts. For example, acquiring an imageat a pixel sampling rate that would be used for a large (typicallyhigher pixel density) screen and then downscaling the image may producean image that has aliasing artifacts. However, acquiring an image at alower pixel sampling rate, and then upscaling the image may produce animage that has fewer aliasing artifacts.

With respect to whether a complete ultrasound image or a croppedultrasound image is displayed, a large application window size may havemore physical display space to show the full breadth of the ultrasoundsignal data that is acquired (act 20 in FIG. 1). For example, in asector or a curvilinear image, the complete ultrasound image may begenerated from a number of radial ultrasound signal lines, and each ofthese lines may contain image data at the user-configured imaging depth.On a large application window size, there may be sufficient physicalspace to display imaging data at the user-configured imaging depth fromevery scanline—including the leftmost and rightmost radial ultrasoundscanlines.

However, to display the same complete ultrasound image on a smallapplication window, it would typically be necessary to scale thecomplete ultrasound image down considerably. This may be undesirablebecause details in the scaled-down image would be difficult to view.Instead, act 24 may display a cropped ultrasound image when it isdetermined that the application window is small. The cropping at act 24may take different forms. In an example embodiment, one or both sides ofthe ultrasound image may be cropped and the height of the ultrasoundimage can be scaled so that it corresponds to the vertical dimension ofthe application window. In this situation, the full depth of theultrasound image may be displayed in the central portion of theultrasound image, but the leftmost and rightmost edges of the displaymay not be viewable. For a sector or a curvilinear image, this may meanthat image data deeper into the tissue generated from the leftmostand/or rightmost transducer elements are not viewable. However, the lossof ability to view this data may be acceptable because typicalultrasound scanning technique focuses on the central portion of theprobe, and the full depth of the image data acquired from the centerportion transducer elements are viewable. Indeed, because certainportions (e.g., the left or right most portions of the image) of theultrasound image are cropped away so as not to be viewable, theremaining viewable portion of the image can be scaled up so that thecenter portion of the image can appear larger on the small applicationwindow size. This, in turn, may make certain details in the centerportion of the image more easily viewable on the small applicationwindow size.

Referring still to FIG. 1, it is notable that the complete ultrasoundimage may be displayed in both acts 14 and 20. While the display of thecomplete ultrasound image in act 20 is in response to a determinationthat an application window size is large, no such determination is madewhen the complete ultrasound image is displayed in act 14. Thus, incertain instances, when act 14 is performed to display the completeultrasound image (e.g., without cropping), the complete ultrasound imagemay potentially be displayed on a small application window. However,this would only happen if the imaging depth is shallower than a certainthreshold depth D. At these shallower depths (e.g., at 1-4 centimeters),the tissue volume scanned may be much smaller than when the amount oftissue volume is scanned at deeper depths. If images obtained at theseshallower depths were cropped, the cropping may have adisproportionately large effect on the amount of remaining meaningfulcontent that is viewable. As such, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, it maybe desirable to show the complete ultrasound image without any croppingat depths less than a certain threshold D, even on a small applicationwindow size. For example, this may allow an operator to view the fullwidth of the shallow ultrasound data they desired to see. In someembodiments the threshold depth D may configured to be between 1-10centimeters.

In some embodiments, whether the complete ultrasound image is displayedin steps 14 and 20, or whether a cropped ultrasound image is displayedin step 24, the operator of the scanner may still optionally zoom in andout of the image displayed in the application window.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary system 30 is shown for adaptingdisplay of an ultrasound image on a display device based on the size ofthe application window available for the display of the ultrasoundimage. The system 30 may include an ultrasound scanner 31 (hereinafter“scanner” for brevity) with a processor 32, which may be connected to anon-transitory computer readable memory 34 storing computer readableinstructions 36 which, when executed by the processor 32, may cause thescanner 31 to provide one or more of the functions of the system 30.Such functions may include, for example, the acquisition of ultrasounddata, the processing of ultrasound data, the transmission of ultrasounddata to a display device 50, and the detection of operator inputs to thescanner 31.

The computer readable memory 34 may also store computer readable data38. Computer readable data 38 may be used by the processor 32 inconjunction with the computer readable instructions 36 to provide thefunctions of the system 30. Computer readable data 38 may include, forexample, configuration settings for the scanner 31, such as preset scanparameters that instruct the processor 32 how to collect and process theultrasound data. Such a preset scan parameter may be selected, forexample, depending on the size of the application window available onthe screen 52 of the display device 50. In various embodiments,configuration settings may include any other data that is specific tothe way that the scanner 31 operates.

The scanner 31 may include a communications module 40 connected to theprocessor 32. In the illustrated example embodiment, the communicationsmodule 40 may wirelessly transmit signals to and receives signals fromthe display device 50 along wireless communication link 44. The protocolused for communications between the scanner 31 and the display device 50may be WiFi™ or Bluetooth™, for example, or any other suitable two-wayradio communications protocol. The scanner 31 may operate as a WiFi™hotspot, for example. Communication link 44 may use any suitablewireless network connection. While the illustrated example embodimentincludes a wireless communication link 44 between the display device 50and the scanner 31, in some embodiments, the connection between thescanner 31 and the display device 50 may be wired (e.g., via a USB-C,lightning, or other wired connection).

The display device 50 may be, for example, a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a desktop computer, a smart phone, a smart watch, smartglasses (e.g., spectacles with a built-in display), a television, abespoke display or any other display device that is capable of beingconnected to the scanner 31. The display device 50 may host a screen 52and include a processor 54. The processor 54 may be connected to anon-transitory computer readable memory 56 storing computer readableinstructions 58 which, when executed by the processor 54, cause thedisplay device 50 to provide one or more of the functions of the system30. Such functions may be, for example, the receiving of ultrasound datathat may or may not be pre-processed, scan conversion of ultrasound datathat is received into an ultrasound media, the control of the scanner 31via user input received at the display device 50, the display of anultrasound image on the screen 52 (e.g., within an application window onthe screen 52), and the adapting of the displayed ultrasound image forsuitable display within the application window as described herein.

The computer readable memory 56 may also store computer readable data 60which may be used by the processor 54 in conjunction with computerreadable instructions 58 to provide the functions of the system 30.Computer readable data 60 may include, for example, settings for thescanner 31, such as preset scan parameters for acquiring ultrasound datadepending on the size of the screen 52 or application window on thescreen 52, and/or settings for a user interface displayed on the screen52. Settings may also include any other data that is specific to the waythat the scanner 31 operates or that the display device 50 operates.

It can therefore be understood that the computer readable instructionsand data used for controlling the system 30 may be located either in thecomputer readable memory 34 of the scanner 31, the computer readablememory 56 of the display device 50, and/or both the computer readablememories 34, 56.

The display device 50 may also include a communications module 62connected to the processor 54. In the illustrated example embodiment,the communications module 62 wirelessly transmits signals to andreceives signals from the scanner 31 on wireless communication link 44.

However, as noted, the communication link between display device 50 andthe scanner 31 may be wired in some embodiments.

Referring still to FIG. 2, it is notable that different types of displaydevices 50 may have different sized screens 52. Generally, theembodiments described herein relate to methods of adapting the displayof an ultrasound image to screens of different sizes.

Referring to FIG. 3, shown there is a process performed by the system 30for determining how to acquire and display an ultrasound image based onthe characteristics of the application window, according to anotherembodiment. In describing the method of FIG. 3, reference willsimultaneously be made to FIGS. 4-8, which show example display devicesof various sizes. These various example display devices will beidentified using the reference numerals 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 d, and 50e; and their corresponding different-sized screens will be identifiedusing 52 a, 52 b, 52 c, 52 d, and 52 e respectively. The discussionsbelow relate generally to example scenarios where the size of the screen52 varies, and situations where the application window fills theentirety of the screens 52; however, analogous discussions are alsoapplicable to application windows that only fill a portion of the screen52.

In step 130, the system 30 may determine whether the application window,when in the portrait mode, has a height h (e.g., vertical dimension)that is greater than a threshold height H1. The height may be determineddirectly, for example, by determining a physical dimension inmillimeters. For example, the physical dimension in millimeters of ascreen may be can value that can be determined from an operating system(e.g., either iOS™ or Android™ operating systems) applicationprogramming interface (API). Additionally or alternately, the height hmay be determined indirectly, for example by determining the number ofpixels, the width of the application window, or any other indicator ofthe size of the application window, and then translating that indicatorinto the height of the physical height of the application window.

If the height of the application window is greater than the threshold H1(the ‘Y’ branch of act 130) then, in step 132, the display device 50 mayrequest the scanner 31 to acquire the ultrasound data using a first setof scan parameters. Similar to the first set of scan parametersdiscussed in relation to FIG. 1 above that are used to acquireultrasound image data for the large application window size, the firstset of scan parameters here are configured to be sufficiently robust togenerate an ultrasound image that is suitable for display a relativelylarge application window size. For example, the first set of scanparameters may have a relatively high frame rate (e.g., to reducepotential flicker of the ultrasound image feed) and/or a relatively highnumber of scan lines (e.g., to reduce the likelihood of the ultrasoundimage feed appearing pixelated).

In response, in step 134, the scanner may perform the scan using thefirst set of parameters. In some embodiments, the first set ofparameters may include a first formula or an indication of a firstformula with which to process the scan data. For example, the formulamay be a formula for smoothing the scan data and/or reducing speckle. Instep 136, the scanner 31 may process the scan data with the firstformula. In step 140, the scanner 31 may then send the processed scandata to the display device 50.

In step 142, the display device 50 may optionally scale the ultrasoundimage so that its width is equal to the width w of the applicationwindow. In step 144, the display device 50 may then display the completeultrasound image in the application window. The displayed ultrasoundimage may correspond, for example, to the complete ultrasound image 76displayed on the large screen 52 a of FIG. 4.

Referring simultaneously to FIG. 4, a display device 50 a with screen 52a is shown. The screen 52 a may be considered to be large because it hasa vertical dimension h that is greater than the threshold dimension H1.Pursuant to act 144 in the method of FIG. 3, the ultrasound image 76 maythus be displayed as a complete ultrasound image. Also, pursuant to act142 in the method of FIG. 3, the complete ultrasound image 76 is scaledso that its width is equal to the width w of the screen 52 a.

Since the screen 52 a is larger than height threshold HI, it is likely arelatively tall display. As such, even after scaling the ultrasoundimage so that it fits the width of the screen 52 a, there may beresidual vertical blank space (either above or below) the ultrasoundimage 76. As shown in FIG. 4, the application window on the screen 52 amay thus also contain user interface buttons 74 with the ultrasoundimage 76. The user interface buttons may, for example, be for freezingthe ultrasound image 76, changing the mode of operation of the scanner31, adjusting the gain of the scanner 31, and/or adjusting the depth ofthe ultrasound image 76.

In the discussion above, it was noted that act 142 in the method of FIG.3 is optional so that the ultrasound image may not necessarily be scaledto the window width w. This is because for screens that are considerablylarger than the screen 52 a, scaling the image to fit the window width wmay result in an ultrasound image that appears overly stretched and/orpixelated. Thus, in certain instances, this scaling may not beperformed. Instead, the system 30 may be configured so that when thescreen width is greater than the threshold width W, the width of thecomplete ultrasound image is scaled to the threshold width W and nowider. This threshold width may be determined in a manner that allowsfor sufficient detail of the ultrasound image to be readily discerned byan operator, but not so wide that it becomes the ultrasound image 76would appear pixelated. For example, in various embodiments, thethreshold width W may be between 20-25 centimeters.

Referring back to FIG. 3, if the height of the application window asdetermined in step 130 is not greater than the threshold height H1 (the‘N’ branch of act 130), then the system 30 may determine whether theheight of the application window is above a height threshold H2 that issmaller than H1 (act 150). If the height of the application window isgreater than H2 (the ‘Y’ branch of act 150), then, in step 152 thedisplay device 50 may request the scanner 31 to acquire the ultrasoundimage data using a second set of scan parameters. As discussed above inrelation to FIG. 1 when ultrasound images are acquired for smallapplication window sizes, this second set of scan parameters may have alower density of ultrasound image data so as to avoid expendingresources on acquiring and/or processing ultrasound image data that mayhave not have a visibly discernible difference on the ultrasound imageswhen they are displayed on this intermediate-sized display that has aheight in between H1 and H2. In various embodiments, this second set ofscan parameters may have a lower frame rate and/or a lower number ofscan lines relative to the first set of scan parameters used in act 134.

At act 154, the scanner 31 may perform the scan using the second set ofparameters. In various embodiments, the second set of parameters mayinclude a second formula or an indication of a second formula with whichto process the scan data. For example, this may be a formula forsmoothing the scan data or reducing speckle. In some embodiments, thissecond formula may be different from the first formula used in act 136.In some embodiments, the second formula may be the same formula used inthe act 136, but parameterized differently to account for the smallerapplication window size. For example, the smoothing filter and/or thespeckle reduction algorithm may be configured to operate in a coarserway since the more granular smoothing and/or speckle reductionoperations may not be viewable on the smaller screen. At act 156, thescanner 31 may proceed to process the scan data with the second formula.At act 160, the scanner 31 may then send the processed scan data to thedisplay device 50.

At step 162, the display device 50 may scale the ultrasound image sothat its height is equal to the threshold height H2. Notably, this mayhappen for all application window heights that are generally in betweenthe height thresholds H1 and H2. In effect, the threshold H2 becomes amaximize vertical height for how an ultrasound image would be displayed.

At step 164, the display device 50 may then optionally crop one or bothof the left and right sides of the ultrasound image so that it fits inthe application window. For some application window sizes and ultrasoundimage sizes, the sides of the ultrasound image may not need to becropped, and hence step 164 is optional as it may not be performed. Instep 166, the display device 50 may then display the ultrasound image,which may be cropped, in the application window.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two different example situations where the height hof the application window falls between H1 and H2. FIGS. 5 and 6 arediscussed below in relation to the ‘Y’ branch of act 150 in FIG. 3.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 3 and 5, a display device 50 b with anapplication window that fills screen 52 b is shown. The screen 52 b hasa vertical dimension h that is equal to the threshold dimension H1. Assuch, the height h of screen 52 b would not be considered greater thanthreshold H1 at act 130, but it would be considered greater thanthreshold H2 of FIG. 3 so as to trigger the ‘Y’ branch at act 150. Onthis screen 52 b, the ultrasound image 76 may then be scaled verticallyso that it matches the threshold height H2 at act 162. In theillustrated embodiment, since the screen 52 b is wide enough to fit thefull width of the ultrasound image 76, the optional cropping of act 164need not be performed prior to the display of the ultrasound image atact 166. In the example embodiment of FIG. 5, the ultrasound imagescaled to the maximum vertical threshold H2. Since the height h of thescreen 52 b is still higher than H2, the screen is still large enough toalso display and a set of user interface buttons 74.

Referring now simultaneously to FIGS. 3 and 6, a display device 50 cwith an application window that fills screen 52 c is shown. The screen52 c has an intermediate vertical dimension h that is below thethreshold dimension H1 and greater than the threshold dimension H2 sothat when the method of FIG. 3 is executed, the ‘Y’ branch of act 152would be triggered. On the screen 52 c, the height of the ultrasoundimage 76 is scaled to equal the threshold height H2 at act 162. However,in this embodiment, the width w of the screen 52 c is not wide enough tofit the full width of the ultrasound image 76 after it has been scaledto the height threshold H2. As such, the left and right sides of theultrasound image 76 are cropped at act 164 prior it is displayed at act166.

By cropping the sides of the ultrasound image, the image is effectivelyzoomed-in in the more important detail in the center of the image 76.This makes the center portion of the ultrasound image 76 morecomfortably visible to the operator of the scanner 31 than would be ifthe complete ultrasound image were to be displayed on the same screen 52c in the same portrait orientation (in which case, the same detail inthe center portion of the ultrasound image 76 would appear smaller). Thescreen 52 c may not be large enough to display both the ultrasound image76 and a set of user interface buttons such as those on screen 52 a and52 b shown on FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively. In the illustrated example, nouser interface controls are shown in the available area 98. However, insome embodiments, the user interface controls 74 of FIGS. 4 and 5 couldbe made smaller in appearance. While this may potentially make thecontrols 74 more difficult to use, it will allow the user interfacecontrols 74 to be retained and still be accessed.

Referring back to FIG. 3, if the height of the application window asdetermined in step 150 is not greater than the threshold height H2 (the‘N’ branch of act 150), then, in step 170 the display device 50 mayrequest the scanner 31 to acquire the ultrasound data using the secondset of parameters. As illustrated, the same second set of scanparameters as is used in the ‘Y’ branch of act 150 is used as in the ‘N’branch. This may facilitate ease of implementation so that there areonly two set of scan parameters: e.g., for large and small applicationwindow sizes (e.g., when the application window height is above andbelow height threshold H1 respectively).

However, in some embodiments, act 170 may involve scanning with a thirdset of scan parameters that have even lower information density than thesecond set of scan parameters. Since the screen height in the ‘N’ branchof act 150 is even shorter than the height threshold H2, such potentialthird set of scan parameters can be further optimized to further reducethe acquired information since the acquired information will be evenmore difficult to view on the even smaller application window size thatis less than height threshold H2. For example, this third set of scanparameters may have even fewer scan lines and/or a an even lower pixelsampling rate than the second set of scan parameters.

At act 172, the scanner 31 may perform the scan using the set of scanparameters that the display device 50 instructed it to use. In step 174,the scanner 31 may proceed to process the scan data with a formula. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, this is the same second formula used in act 156(e.g., the same configuration of the first formula used in act 136, asnoted above). However, in some embodiments, this may be a third formula,or the same formula used in act 136 but parameterized in a third way toaccount for the even smaller application window size. For example, thesmoothing filter and/or the speckle reduction algorithm may beconfigured to operate in a way that is even coarser, since finersmoothing or speckle reduction may not be viewable on the smallerscreen. The scanner 31 may then send the processed scan data to thedisplay device 50 (act 176).

In step 180, the display device 50 may scale the ultrasound image sothat its height is equal to the height h of the application window. Inthis instance, since the application window height h not greater thanthe lower height threshold H2, it is likely that that the applicationwindow is quite small. As such, to maximize viewing of the ultrasoundimage on the relatively small screen, the ultrasound image can be scaledso that its height matches the height of the window.

Since the vertical dimension h of the application window is small, inportrait mode, it is likely the width of the application window is alsosmall. Scaling the ultrasound image height to match the window height hmay then result in the entire width of the ultrasound image not fittinginto the available width of the application window for displaying theultrasound image.

In step 182, the display device 50 may then crop one or both of the leftand right sides of the ultrasound image so that a center portion of theultrasound image can be viewable in the application window while itsfull height has been scaled to match the application window height h.The display device 50 may then display the cropped ultrasound image inthe application window.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show two different example situations where the height hof the application window is not greater than threshold H2. FIGS. 7 and8 are discussed below in relation to the ‘N’ branch of act 150 in FIG.3.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 3 and 7, a display device 50 d with anapplication window that fills screen 52 d is shown. The screen 52 d hasa vertical dimension h that is equal to the threshold dimension H2. Assuch, the height h of screen 52 d would not be considered greater thanthreshold H2 at act 150, and the ‘N’ branch at act 150 would betriggered. On this screen 52 d, the ultrasound image 76 may then bescaled vertically so that it matches the application window height h atact 180. In the illustrated embodiment, scaling the image to fit theheight h of the application window on screen 52 d means the full widthof the ultrasound image 76 cannot fit the screen 52 d. Thus, at act 182,the ultrasound image 76 may be cropped. By cropping the sides of theultrasound image, the image is effectively zoomed in on the centerportion of the ultrasound image, which typically shows the moreimportant detail desired to be viewed by the operator. The cropping thusallows this portion of the ultrasound image to be more comfortablyvisible to the operator of the scanner 31 than would be if the fullwidth of the complete ultrasound image were to be displayed on the samescreen 52 d in the same portrait orientation.

Notably, scaling the ultrasound image 76 to the full height h of thescreen 52 d maximizes viewability of the ultrasound image 76 on therelatively small screen 52 d, but it may also not leave room to displayany of the user interface controls such as those that appear on screens52 a and 52 b shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively. Thus, in theseembodiments, the user input that would have been received via those userinterface controls may instead be accessible by double-tapping on thescreen 52 d, for example, where the screen 52 d is a touchscreen; or viainput (e.g., buttons) available on the scanner 31 itself.

Referring now simultaneously to FIGS. 3 and 8, a display device 50 ewith an application window that fills screen 52 e is shown. The screen52 e has a small vertical dimension h that is below the thresholddimension H2, so that the ‘N’ branch at act 150 would be triggered.Thus, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the height of the ultrasoundimage 76 is scaled to equal the threshold height h of the applicationwindow at act 180. Also similar to the embodiment of FIG. 7, scaling theimage to fit the height h of the application window on screen 52 e meansthe full width of the ultrasound image 76 cannot fit the screen 52 e.Thus, at act 182, the sides of the ultrasound image 76 may be similarlycropped so that the center portion of the ultrasound image can be moreeasily viewed by the operator. Since the screen 52 e is even smallerthat the screen 52 d, there is the same lack of space for displayinguser interface controls as was the case for the example of FIG. 7. Assuch, user interface input may be provided in the alternate ways notedabove.

Considering the various example application window sizes shown in FIGS.4-8 together, the method of FIG. 3 can be considered a way of optimizingquality of the displayed ultrasound image with respect to applicationwindow size (and in certain cases, screen size). As the applicationwindow size is reduced in size from screen 52 a (FIG. 4) to screen 52 b(FIG. 5), the scale of the ultrasound image is reduced accordingly, withits width being scaled to the width w of the screen. As the screen isfurther reduced in size from screen 52 b to screen 52 c (FIG. 6), thescale of the ultrasound image 76 can remain the same, with an imageheight equal to H2, but its sides become increasingly cropped. As thescreen is again reduced in size from screen 52 c to screen 52 d (FIG.7), the scale of the ultrasound image 76 can again remain the same, withan image height equal to H2, but the sides of the image are furthercropped. As the screen is even further reduced in size from screen 52 dto screen 52 e (FIG. 8), the scale of the ultrasound image can befurther reduced so as to retain the full height of the image displayedon the screen, and also so as not to crop too much of the more importantdetail that is found in the center of the ultrasound image.

Referring to FIG. 9, shown there is a method of adapting display of anultrasound image on a display device, according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure. In step 190, a physical scan distance isdetermined. This distance can be any distance traversed by an ultrasoundsignal to generate the ultrasound image. For example, it can be the fulldepth of an ultrasound scan or any portion thereof. Note that theultrasound signals may traverse a physical distance twice (e.g., once ineach direction), and it is the measure of the physical distance that isdetermined rather than the total round-trip path of the ultrasoundsignals.

In step 192, the available screen area may be determined, including thedimensions of the available screen area. This information may bedetermined from available operating system API calls, in a mannersimilar to how the height h is determined with respect to the method ofFIG. 3 above.

In step 194, a translation ratio is determined. The translation ratiomay be an indication of the physical size of the ultrasound image (wereit to be displayed) in comparison to the actual physical depth of theultrasound scan. To determine the translation ratio, it would first bedetermined what the size of the ultrasound image would be were it to bedisplayed as a complete ultrasound image on the available area of thescreen (e.g., the complete ultrasound image would be fitted to theavailable display area). Then, a physical distance on that displayedultrasound image would be divided by the corresponding physical distancetraversed by the ultrasound signal. For example, on a given screen, 1 cmon a complete ultrasound image (when fitted to the display) maycorrespond to 2 cm of imaged tissue. This would then provide atranslation ratio of 0.5, for example.

In step 196, the determined translation ratio is compared to a minimumthreshold translation ratio. If the determined translation ratio is notbelow the minimum threshold translation ratio (the ‘N’ branch at act196), the appearance of imaged structures on the screen may beconsidered large enough, and the ultrasound image may be displayed infull in step 198. If, however, the determined translation ratio is belowthe minimum threshold translation ratio (the ‘Y’ branch at act 196), theappearance of imaged structures on the screen may be considered toosmall for the detail of those structures to be seen clearly by anoperator of the ultrasound scanner. In this case, the ultrasound imagemay need to be further processed so that such detail may appear at agreater magnification. In various embodiments, the minimum thresholdratio may be between 0.25-1.

In step 200, a test ultrasound image may be created at the minimumthreshold translation ratio. That is, a test ultrasound image may becreated which has a size that, if displayed, would have a translationratio that is equal to the minimum threshold translation ratio. In step202, a cropping operation may be performed on the test ultrasound image.In various embodiments, the cropping operation may involve the removalof: one or both sides of the test ultrasound image by a predefinednumber of pixels or a predefined percentage of the width of the testultrasound image; a top of the test ultrasound image by a predefinednumber of pixels or a predefined percentage of the height of the testultrasound image; a bottom of the test ultrasound image by a predefinednumber of pixels or a predefined percentage of the height of the testultrasound image; a combination of two or more of the foregoing; orusing any other suitable rule.

In some embodiments, the cropping operation may involve cropping thetest ultrasound image at various crop ratios (a crop ratio being a ratioof the area of the post-cropped image relative to the pre-croppedimage), and testing whether a cropping a given crop ratio results in animage that fits the available area of the screen. For example, in someembodiments, after cropping the test ultrasound image at a first cropratio, the cropped image can be tested to determine if it fits theavailable physical area of the screen. If so, it can be displayedwithout scaling. If not, the test ultrasound image can be furthercropped at a second crop ratio, and that cropped image can be tested todetermine if it fits the available physical area of the screen. If so,the test ultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio can bedisplayed in the available physical area of the screen. If not, the testultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio can be returned fromthe cropping operation for the determination made at act 204.

Additionally or alternatively, the cropping operation may repeat anumber of acts for successively smaller crop ratios. For example, thecropping operation may involve repeatedly: cropping the test ultrasoundimage at a test crop ratio, determining whether the test ultrasoundimage cropped at the test crop ratio fits the available physical area ofthe screen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,and if the test ultrasound image cropped at the test crop ratio fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, displaying the test ultrasound imagecropped at the test crop ratio in the available physical area of thescreen of the display device. These successive operations may beperformed until a crop ratio limit is met. If the test ultrasound imagecropped at the crop ratio limit does not fit the available physical areaof the screen of the display device, the test ultrasound image croppedat the crop ratio limit may be provided as the cropped test ultrasoundimage generated from the cropping operation, and used for thedetermination made at act 204.

The crop ratio limit may be considered the minimum crop ratio that maybe permitted before it can be considered that too much of the imagedtissue has been removed from the ultrasound image. Having a crop ratiolimit may prevent overcropping an image to the point where what remainsis no longer relevant for the operator to view. Examples of the cropratio limit may vary for different types of ultrasound images, and arediscussed with respect to the examples below.

Referring still to FIG. 9, at step 204, it is determined whether thecropped test ultrasound image fits within the available area of thescreen in the current orientation of the screen. If the cropped testultrasound image fits within the available area of the screen (the ‘Y’branch of step 204), then, in step 206, the cropped test ultrasoundimage may be displayed. Notably, the cropped test ultrasound image wouldhave a translation ratio that is at the minimum threshold translationratio, which is larger than that the translation ratio would have beenhad the image been fitted to display the complete ultrasound image.While certain aspects of the image have been cropped, this allows theremaining visible portion of the ultrasound image (usually a centerportion of the image) to appear larger in a manner that allows detailswithin the imaged tissue to be more easily discernible to the operator.

If the cropped test ultrasound image does not within the available areaof the screen (the ‘N’ branch at act 204), then, in step 208, thecropped test ultrasound image may be scaled to reduce it in size untilit fits within the available area of the screen. After scaling, thescaled and cropped test ultrasound image may then be displayed in step206.

Scaling the cropped test ultrasound image may involve scaling thecropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operation sothat a vertical dimension of the scaled and cropped test ultrasoundimage substantially matches a vertical dimension of the availablephysical area of the display of the display device. When scaling thecropped test ultrasound image, the aspect ratio of the scaled andcropped test ultrasound image may be maintained the same as the aspectratio of the ultrasound image.

As noted, in some embodiments, steps in FIG. 9 may be repeated. Forexample, the cropping may be done in one or more stages, with thecropped test image at each stage being tested to determine whether itfits within the available screen area.

FIGS. 10-12 below provide a number of example scenarios for how themethod of FIG. 9 may be performed on different types of ultrasoundimages, and different types of screen sizes/orientations. In discussingFIGS. 10-12 below, reference will simultaneously be made to the methodof FIG. 9.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 9 and 10, shown there is a pictorialillustration of the method of FIG. 9 for an example embodiment where arelatively superficial image is acquired using a linear scanner thatproduces a generally rectangular ultrasound image, and this image isdisplayed on a screen in portrait orientation. The translation ratio isfirst determined by determining the size of the ultrasound image 176 aas if it were displayed in full on a given available screen area 152 a(acts 190-194 of FIG. 9). As noted above, the translation ratio may be aphysical distance on the screen occupied by a portion of the completeversion of the ultrasound image (were it to be fitted to the availablescreen area 152 a) divided by the corresponding physical distance of thescanned tissue.

In step 196, the translation ratio may be compared to a minimumtranslation ratio. If the determined translation ratio is not less thanthe minimum translation ratio (the ‘N’ branch at act 196—e.g., theavailable screen area is sufficiently large to display the imaged tissuein sufficient detail), the complete ultrasound image 176 b may bedisplayed in full on the available screen area 152 b.

While the example of FIG. 10 shows the ultrasound image 176 b extendedto occupy the full available width of the available screen area 152 b,in some embodiments where the available display area 152 b isparticularly large, the complete ultrasound image 176 b may be displayedwithout extending the image to the full width and/or height of theavailable screen area. In these embodiments, a maximum thresholdtranslation ratio may be provided, so that if the complete ultrasoundimage 176 b is to be displayed, it should have a translation ratio nolarger than the maximum translation ratio. For example, this may resultin blank space being provided adjacent to (e.g., to the left and/orright of) the ultrasound image 176 b.

In situations where the available display area 152 b is particularlylarge, extending the complete ultrasound image 176 b to fill theavailable space may overly stretch the appearance of the ultrasoundimage 176 b so that it appears pixelated. Having a maximum thresholdtranslation ratio at which an ultrasound image 176 b may be displayedmay prevent this from occurring. In various example embodiments, forexample, the maximum threshold translation ratio may be set to between1-3.

Referring still to FIG. 10, if the translation ratio is below theminimum translation ratio (the ‘Y’ branch at act 196), a croppingoperation may be performed on an ultrasound image which is translated tohave the minimum threshold ratio (acts 200-202 of FIG. 9). As notedabove, in some embodiments, during the cropping operation, suchultrasound image may be cropped at successively smaller crop ratiosuntil a crop ratio limit is met. The cropping operation may generatecropped test ultrasound image 176 c. In the illustrated example of FIG.10, the sides 122, 124 of image 176 c may be removed during the croppingoperation.

Generally, for ultrasound images displayed on screens that are inportrait orientation, the limiting dimension of the screen is the widthof the screen area. As a result, cropping may generally be done on oneor more sides of the image to allow for the appearance of the ultrasoundimage to be magnified along the width dimension.

In step 204, it is determined whether the cropped test ultrasound image176 c fits the available area of a given screen. If it does (the ‘Y’branch at act 204), e.g., if it fits in available screen area 152 c,then the cropped test ultrasound image 176 c may be displayed in thescreen area 152 c without scaling.

If the cropped test ultrasound image 176 c does not fit (the ‘N’ branchat act 204), e.g., if it does not fit in available screen area 152 d,then the cropped test ultrasound image is scaled and displayed asultrasound image 176 d. The ‘N’ branch of act 204 may usually beexecuted for smaller available screen areas 176 d compared to otheravailable screen areas.

When displaying images acquired using a linear image, it is atypical toperform any cropping. However, as discussed with respect to FIG. 10, thepresent embodiments may perform certain cropping (e.g., on the left andright sides of an ultrasound image) to try to maintain a highertranslation ratio and show the details in the center portion of theimage at greater magnification. This may be desirable, for example, whenthe linear image is generated in the context of an interventionalprocedure where the ultrasound image is being used to highlight a needlebeing inserted into tissue. For example, as compared to an imageacquired without the present embodiments, the present embodiments mayprovide an image with a higher translation ratio that makes it easierfor an ultrasound operator to more easily visualize the inserted needle.At the same time, the present embodiments do not simply keep croppingfor successively smaller screens, in a manner that would crop outimportant aspects of the ultrasound image 176 b. By cropping only up toa crop ratio limit and then scaling the cropped image from there togenerate an image that can be displayed, the present embodiments providean optimal balance between the desirability of having as high atranslation ratio for the displayed image on the one hand (to make it aseasy as possible to see detail in the ultrasound image) with the riskthat over-cropping might actually remove parts of the image that isdesired to be viewed by the operator.

Referring to FIG. 11, shown there is a pictorial illustration of themethod of FIG. 9 for an example embodiment where a curvilinear image isdisplayed on a screen in portrait orientation. The translation ratio isfirst determined by determining the size of the ultrasound image 276 aas if it were displayed in full on a given available screen area 252 a(acts 190-194 of FIG. 9). As noted above, the translation ratio may be aphysical distance on the screen occupied by a portion of the completeversion of the ultrasound image (were it to be fitted to the availablescreen area 252 a) divided by the corresponding physical distance of thescanned tissue.

In step 196, the translation ratio may be compared to a minimumtranslation ratio. If the determined translation ratio is not less thanthe minimum translation ratio (the ‘N’ branch at act 196—e.g., theavailable screen area is sufficiently large to display the imaged tissuein sufficient detail), the ultrasound image 276 b may be displayed infull on the available screen area 252 b. As with the illustration inFIG. 10, the ultrasound image 276 a has a width that matches the widthof the available screen area 252 b. However, in some embodiments wherethe available screen area 252 b is particularly large, the width of theultrasound image 276 b may be configured to be of a size that, whendisplayed, has a translation ratio no larger than a maximum translationratio.

Referring still to FIG. 11, if the translation ratio is below theminimum translation ratio (the ‘Y’ branch at act 196), a cropped testultrasound image 276 c having the minimum threshold translation ratiomay be generated from the cropping operation (acts 200-202 of FIG. 9).In the illustrated example of FIG. 11, the sides 222, 224 of image 276 cmay be removed during the cropping operation. As noted above withrespect to FIG. 10, the cropped test ultrasound image 276 c may begenerated from a cropping operation that repeatedly crops the ultrasoundimage at successively smaller crop ratios up to a crop ratio limit.

In various embodiments, the crop ratio limit may differ for differenttypes of ultrasound images (e.g., linear, sector, or curvilinear imagesas may be generated from transducers having different transducergeometries). For example, when cropping the left and right sides of animage, the portion of the ultrasound scan data that is removed may behigher for a linear image (where the entire length of the scan line datain the axial direction for the edge transducer elements are removed)than for a sector image or a curvilinear image (where only the deeperimage data is removed while the shallower image data closer to the scanhead is preserved). This can be seen comparing the portions of thecurvilinear ultrasound image 222, 224 that are removed in FIG. 11 versusthe portions of the linear ultrasound image 122, 124 which are removedin FIG. 10. Thus, since cropping may remove a higher proportionateamount of image data for a linear image than for a sector or curvilinearimage, the crop ratio limit may be more constrained for linear images.Put another way, a linear image may not be as tolerable to cropping ascurvilinear and sector images are. As such, in some embodiments, thecrop ratio limit may be smaller for sector and/or curvilinear images(e.g., it may tolerate more cropping) since cropping may not remove asmuch relevant image data. For example, in various embodiments, a cropratio limit may be between 85-95% for a linear image, and 75-85% for asector and/or curvilinear image.

The discussion above with respect to cropping generally relates tocropping an image after scan conversion has been performed so as to fitimage data that is in cartesian coordinates into a rectangular display.However, in various embodiments, cropping may additionally oralternatively be performed on pre-scan converted image data (e.g., toremove scan lines generated from the edges of the transducer). Forexample, for sector and curvilinear images, this data may still be inpolar coordinate form when cropping is performed to remove the edgemostscanlines altogether.

Referring still to FIG. 11, at act 204, it is determined whether thecropped test ultrasound image 276 c fits the available area of thescreen. If it does (the ‘Y’ branch at act 204), e.g., if it fits inavailable screen area 252 c, then the cropped test ultrasound image 276c may be displayed in the screen area 252 c without scaling. If thecropped test ultrasound image 276 c does not fit (the ‘N’ branch at act204), e.g., if it does not fit in available screen area in availablescreen area 252 d, then it is scaled and displayed as ultrasound image276 d. As was the case above in relation to the example of FIG. 10, the‘N’ branch of act 204 may usually be executed for smaller availablescreen areas 252 d compared to other available screen areas.

FIG. 11 illustrates how the method of FIG. 9 may be provide desirableresults for a curvilinear image. A similar discussion may be applicablefor sector a sector image. As with the example of FIG. 10, in FIG. 11,the present embodiments may perform certain cropping (e.g., on the leftand right sides of an ultrasound image) to try to maintain a highertranslation ratio and show the details in the center portion of theimage at greater magnification. Since it is typical for the operator tocenter the transducer over the tissue desired to be viewed (e.g.,whether the imaged tissue is of a fetus, cardiac function, or otherinternal organ), the cropping may allow the imaged tissue in the middleportion of the image to be more easily discerned.

At the same time, the present embodiments do not simply keep croppingfor successively smaller screens, in a manner that would crop outimportant aspects of the ultrasound image 276 b. By cropping only up toa crop ratio limit and then scaling the cropped image from there togenerate an image that can be displayed, the present embodiments providean optimal balance between the desirability of having as high atranslation ratio for the displayed image on the one hand (to make it aseasy as possible to see detail in the ultrasound image) with the riskthat over-cropping might actually remove parts of the image that isdesired to be viewed by the operator.

Referring now simultaneously to FIGS. 9 and 12, shown there is apictorial illustration of the method of FIG. 9 for an example embodimentwhere a curvilinear image is displayed on a screen in landscapeorientation. The translation ratio is first determined by determiningthe size of the ultrasound image 376 a as if it were displayed in fullon a given available screen area 352 a (acts 190-194 of FIG. 9). Asnoted above, the translation ratio may be a physical distance on thescreen occupied by a portion of the complete version of the ultrasoundimage (were it to be fitted to the available screen area 352 a) dividedby the corresponding physical distance of the scanned tissue.

In step 196, the translation ratio may be compared to a minimumtranslation ratio. If the determined translation ratio is not less thanthe minimum translation ratio (the ‘N’ branch at act 196—e.g., theavailable screen area is sufficiently large to display the imaged tissuein sufficient detail), the ultrasound image 376 b may be displayed infull on the available screen area 352 b.

Unlike the examples in FIGS. 10 and 11 above which displayed ultrasoundimages on a screen in portrait orientation, since the screen is inlandscape orientation in FIG. 12, the limiting dimension of the screenis the height of available screen area as opposed to the width. As such,when displaying the complete ultrasound image 376 b, the height of theultrasound image 376 b may be configured to match the available heightof the available screen area 352 b. To have the ultrasound image 376 bmaintain the same aspect ratio as ultrasound image 376 a, there may beblank space provided to the left and right of the ultrasound image 376b.

As with the examples discussed above in relation to FIGS. 10 and 11, forparticularly large screens, the height of the ultrasound image 376 b maybe configured to be of a size that, when displayed, has a translationratio no larger than a maximum translation ratio. In these cases, theremay also be blank space above and/or below the complete ultrasound image376 b.

Referring still to FIG. 12, if the translation ratio is below theminimum translation ratio (the ‘Y’ branch at act 196), a cropped testultrasound image 376 c having the minimum threshold translation ratiomay be generated from the cropping operation (acts 200-202 of FIG. 9).In the illustrated example of FIG. 12, the top and bottom edges 322, 324of image 376 c may be removed. As noted above with respect to FIG. 10,the cropped test ultrasound image 376 c may be generated from a croppingoperation that repeatedly crops the ultrasound image at successivelysmaller crop ratios up to a crop ratio limit.

In the examples of FIGS. 10 and 11, cropping was generally performed onthe sides of the ultrasound image when the ultrasound image is beingdisplayed on a screen in portrait orientation. However, in the exampleembodiment of FIG. 12, the ultrasound image is being displayed inlandscape orientation so that the limiting dimension of the screen isthe height of the screen. In this scenario, it may be desirable to cropthe top and/or bottom of the ultrasound image so that the verticaldimension of the ultrasound image can be shown in greater magnification.

At act 204, it is determined whether the cropped test ultrasound image376 c fits the available area of the screen. If it does (the ‘Y’ branchat act 204), e.g., if it fits in available screen area 352 c, then thecropped test ultrasound image 376 c may be displayed in the screen area352 c without scaling. If the cropped test ultrasound image 376 c doesnot fit (the ‘N’ branch at act 204), e.g., if it does not fit inavailable screen area in available screen area 252 d, then it is scaledand displayed as ultrasound image 376 d. As was the case above inrelation to the examples of FIGS. 10 and 11, the ‘N’ branch of act 204may usually be executed for smaller available screen areas 352 dcompared to other available screen areas.

FIG. 12 illustrates how the method of FIG. 9 may again provide desirableresults for a curvilinear image when it is displayed in portraitorientation. A similar discussion may be applicable for sector a sectorimage. As with the examples of FIGS. 10 and 11 above, the presentembodiments may perform certain cropping to try to maintain a highertranslation ratio and show the details in the center portion of theimage at greater magnification. However, since the screen is positionedin a landscape orientation, the limiting dimension of the screen is theheight of the screen. As such, it is certain top and/or bottom portions322, 324 of the ultrasound image 376 c that may be removed. This mayallow the vertically-center portion of the ultrasound image 376 c to beshown in a way where imaged tissue therein may be more easilydiscernible.

Again, having a crop ratio limit may reduce the possibility that thereis excessive cropping that would crop out important aspects of theultrasound image 376 b. By cropping only up to a crop ratio limit andthen scaling the cropped image from there to generate an image that canbe displayed, the present embodiments are applicable also to display ofan ultrasound image in landscape orientation, so as to provide anoptimal balance between the desirability of having as high a translationratio for the displayed image on the one hand (to make it as easy aspossible to see detail in the ultrasound image) with the risk thatover-cropping might actually remove parts of the image that is desiredto be viewed by the operator.

While the foregoing description has been given largely in terms ofultrasound images, it is also applicable to ultrasound media in general.

In some embodiments, the same ultrasound scanning parameters may be usedfor all application window sizes or, as discussed above, different setsof scan parameters may be used depending on the application windowand/or screen size.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented using specificallydesigned hardware, configurable hardware, programmable data processorsconfigured by the provision of software (which may optionally include‘firmware’) capable of executing on the data processors, special purposecomputers or data processors that are specifically programmed,configured, or constructed to perform one or more steps in a method asexplained in detail herein and/or combinations of two or more of these.Examples of specifically designed hardware are: logic circuits,application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), large scaleintegrated circuits (“LSIs”), very large scale integrated circuits(“VLSIs”) and the like. Examples of configurable hardware are: one ormore programmable logic devices such as programmable array logic(“PALs”), programmable logic arrays (“PLAs”) and field programmable gatearrays (“FPGAs”). Examples of programmable data processors are:microprocessors, digital signal processors (“DSPs”), embeddedprocessors, graphics processors, math co-processors, general purposecomputers, server computers, cloud computers, main computers, computerworkstations, and the like. For example, one or more data processors ina control circuit for a device may implement methods as described hereinby executing software instructions in a program memory accessible to theprocessors.

While processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternativeexamples may perform routines having steps, or employ systems havingblocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may bedeleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to providealternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may beimplemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes orblocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processesor blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed atdifferent times.

The embodiments may also be provided in the form of a program product.The program product may include any non-transitory medium which carriesa set of computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a dataprocessor, cause the data processor to execute a method of theinvention. Program products according to the invention may be in any ofa wide variety of forms. The program product may include, for example,non-transitory media such as magnetic data storage media includingfloppy diskettes, hard disk drives, optical data storage media includingCD ROMs, DVDs, electronic data storage media including ROMs, flash RAM,EPROMs, hardwired or preprogrammed chips (e.g., EEPROM semiconductorchips), nanotechnology memory, or the like. The computer-readablesignals on the program product may optionally be compressed orencrypted.

Where a component (e.g. software, processor, support assembly, valvedevice, circuit, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated,reference to that component (including a reference to a “means”) shouldbe interpreted as including as equivalents of that component anycomponent which performs the function of the described component (i.e.,that is functionally equivalent), including components which are notstructurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs thefunction in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Specific examples of systems, methods and apparatus have been describedherein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. Thetechnology provided herein can be applied to systems other than theexample systems described above. Many alterations, modifications,additions, omissions and permutations are possible within the practiceof this invention. This invention includes variations on describedembodiments that would be apparent to the skilled addressee, includingvariations obtained by: replacing features, elements and/or acts withequivalent features, elements and/or acts; mixing and matching offeatures, elements and/or acts from different embodiments; combiningfeatures, elements and/or acts from embodiments as described herein withfeatures, elements and/or acts of other technology; and/or omittingcombining features, elements and/or acts from described embodiments. Insome embodiments, the components of the systems and apparatuses may beintegrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems andapparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or othercomponents and the methods described may include more, fewer, or othersteps. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown ordescribed in detail and repetitions of steps and features have beenomitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Screen shots mayshow more or less than the examples given herein. Accordingly, thespecification is to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than arestrictive, sense.

It is therefore intended that the appended claims and claims hereafterintroduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,permutations, additions, omissions and sub-combinations as mayreasonably be inferred. The scope of the claims should not be limited bythe embodiments set forth in the examples but should be given thebroadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

C. Interpretation of terms

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the following applies:

In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in theplural and vice versa with no loss of generality. The use of themasculine can refer to masculine, feminine or both.

The terms “comprise”, “comprising” and the like are to be construed inan inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, thatis to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

The terms “connected”, “coupled”, or any variant thereof, means anyconnection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or moreelements; the coupling or connection between the elements can bephysical, logical, or a combination thereof.

The words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, whenused in this application, refer to this application as a whole and notto any particular portions of this application.

The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items covers all ofthe following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list,all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in thelist.

Words that indicate directions such as “vertical”, “transverse”,“horizontal”, “upward”, “downward”, “forward”, “backward”, “inward”,“outward”, “vertical”, “transverse”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”,“top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “under”, and the like, used in thisdescription and any accompanying claims (where present) depend on thespecific orientation of the apparatus described and illustrated. Thesubject matter described herein may assume various alternativeorientations. Accordingly, these directional terms are not strictlydefined and should not be interpreted narrowly.

The term “corresponds” in relation to the display of an ultrasound imagein an application window means that a particular dimension of thedisplayed ultrasound image is equal, to within a tolerance of 10% or anequivalent number of pixels, to a specified dimension of the applicationwindow.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on thisapplication in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicant wishesto note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claimelements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or“step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

D. Claim Support

Disclosed herein is a method for displaying an ultrasound imagecomprising: determining, by a processor, a vertical dimension of anapplication window displayed on a screen to which an ultrasound scanneris connected, when the application window is in portrait mode;comparing, by the processor, the vertical dimension to a first thresholddimension; when the vertical dimension is greater than the firstthreshold dimension, displaying a complete ultrasound image in theapplication window, the complete ultrasound image scaled so that a fullwidth of the displayed complete ultrasound image corresponds to a widthof the application window; and when the vertical dimension is less thanthe first threshold dimension, displaying a cropped ultrasound image inthe application window scaled so that a full height of the croppedultrasound image is displayed and at least one side edge of the completeultrasound image is not displayed.

In some embodiments, the complete ultrasound image is generated from aplurality of radial ultrasound signal lines, and each of the pluralityof radial ultrasound signal lines comprises image data at an imagingdepth, and wherein the full width of the displayed complete ultrasoundimage comprises image data at the imaging depth for the leftmost andrightmost radial ultrasound signal lines of the plurality of radialultrasound signal lines.

In some embodiments, the method includes, prior to the comparing, by theprocessor, the vertical dimension to the first threshold dimension,determining whether the imaging depth of the ultrasound image is greaterthan a threshold imaging depth; wherein when the imaging depth of theultrasound image is greater than the threshold imaging depth, performingthe comparing and subsequent steps; and when the imaging depth of theultrasound image is determined to be less than the threshold imagingdepth, scaling the complete ultrasound image so that the full width ofthe complete ultrasound image corresponds to the width of theapplication window, and displaying the scaled complete ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, the method includes, when the vertical dimension isless than the first threshold dimension: comparing, by the processor,the vertical dimension to a second threshold dimension different fromthe first threshold dimension; when the vertical dimension is less thanthe second threshold dimension, displaying the cropped ultrasound imageon the application window scaled so that a full height of the croppedultrasound image corresponds to the vertical dimension and at least oneside edge of the complete ultrasound image is not displayed; and whenthe vertical dimension is greater than the second threshold dimension,scaling the displayed ultrasound image so that the full height of thedisplayed ultrasound image corresponds to the second thresholddimension.

In some embodiments, the complete ultrasound image displayed in theapplication window corresponds to the width of the application windowonly if the width of the application window is below a threshold width;and when the width of the application window is above the thresholdwidth, the complete ultrasound image is scaled and displayed so that thewidth of the displayed ultrasound image corresponds to the thresholdwidth.

In some embodiments, the method includes instructing, by the processor,the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasound scan data, wherein: theultrasound scan data is acquired using a first set of parameters whenthe vertical dimension of the application window displayed on the screenis greater than the first threshold dimension; and the ultrasound scandata is acquired using a second set of parameters when the verticaldimension of the application window displayed on the screen is less thanthe first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the first set of parameters comprises a firstnumber of ultrasound signal scan lines and the second set of parameterscomprises a second number of ultrasound signal scan lines, and the firstnumber of ultrasound scan lines is different from the second number ofultrasound signal scan lines.

In some embodiments, the first set of parameters comprises a first framerate and the second set of parameters comprises a second frame rate, andthe first frame rate is different from the second frame rate.

In some embodiments, the method includes instructing, by the processor,the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasound scan data, wherein: theultrasound scan data is processed through an enhanced smoothing filterwhen the vertical dimension of the application window displayed on thescreen is greater than the first threshold dimension; and the ultrasoundscan data is processed through a regular smoothing filter when thevertical dimension of the application window displayed on the screen isless than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the method includes instructing, by the processor,the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasound scan data, wherein: theultrasound scan data is processed through an enhanced speckle reductionprocess when the vertical dimension of the application window displayedon the screen is greater than the first threshold dimension; and theultrasound scan data is processed through a regular speckle reductionprocess when the vertical dimension of the application window displayedon the screen is less than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the method includes, when the vertical dimension isgreater than the threshold dimension and where the display of thecomplete ultrasound image scaled so that a full width of the displayedcomplete ultrasound image corresponds to a width of the applicationwindow results in unoccupied space in the application window, displayingadditional information or user interface controls in the unoccupiedspace of the application window.

In some embodiments, the method includes displaying in the applicationwindow: a first graphical user interface when the vertical dimension ofthe application window displayed on the screen is greater than the firstthreshold dimension; and a second graphical user interface when thevertical dimension of the application window displayed on the screen isless than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the method includes determining that theapplication window is in landscape mode and, in response thereto,scaling the ultrasound image so that the complete ultrasound image isdisplayed.

Also disclosed herein is a computer readable medium comprising computerreadable instructions, which, when executed by a processor cause adisplay device to: determine a vertical dimension of an applicationwindow displayed on a screen to which an ultrasound scanner isconnected, when the application window is in portrait mode; compare thevertical dimension to a first threshold dimension; when the verticaldimension is greater than the threshold dimension, display a completeultrasound image on the application window, the complete ultrasoundimage scaled so that a full width of the displayed complete ultrasoundimage corresponds to a width of the application window; and when thevertical dimension is less than the first threshold dimension, display acropped ultrasound image in the application window scaled so that a fullheight of the cropped ultrasound image is displayed and at least oneside edge of the complete ultrasound image is not displayed.

In some embodiments, the complete ultrasound image is generated from aplurality of radial ultrasound signal lines, and each of the pluralityof radial ultrasound signal lines comprises image data at an imagingdepth, and wherein the full width of the displayed complete ultrasoundimage comprises image data at the imaging depth for the leftmost andrightmost radial ultrasound signal lines of the plurality of radialultrasound signal lines.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the display device to: prior to the comparing ofthe vertical dimension to the first threshold dimension, determinewhether the imaging depth of the ultrasound image is greater than athreshold imaging depth; wherein when the imaging depth of theultrasound image is greater than the threshold imaging depth, performthe comparing and subsequent steps; and when the imaging depth of theultrasound image is determined to be less than the threshold imagingdepth, scale the complete ultrasound image so that the full width of thecomplete ultrasound image corresponds to the width of the applicationwindow, and display the scaled complete ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause, when the vertical dimension is less than thefirst threshold dimension, the display device to: compare the verticaldimension to a second threshold dimension different from the firstthreshold dimension; when the vertical dimension is less than the secondthreshold dimension, display the cropped ultrasound image on theapplication window scaled so that a full height of the croppedultrasound image corresponds to the vertical dimension and at least oneside edge of the complete ultrasound image is not displayed; and whenthe vertical dimension is greater than the second threshold dimension,scale the displayed ultrasound image so that the full height of thedisplayed ultrasound image corresponds to the second thresholddimension.

In some embodiments, the complete ultrasound image displayed in theapplication window corresponds to the width of the application windowonly if the width of the application window is below a threshold width;and when the width of the application window is above the thresholdwidth, the complete ultrasound image is scaled and displayed so that thewidth of the displayed ultrasound image corresponds to the thresholdwidth.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasoundscan data, wherein: the ultrasound scan data is acquired using a firstset of parameters when the vertical dimension of the application windowdisplayed on the screen is greater than the first threshold dimension;and the ultrasound scan data is acquired using a second set ofparameters when the vertical dimension of the application windowdisplayed on the screen is less than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the first set of parameters comprises a firstnumber of ultrasound signal scan lines and the second set of parameterscomprises a second number of ultrasound signal scan lines, and the firstnumber of ultrasound scan lines is different from the second number ofultrasound signal scan lines.

In some embodiments, the first set of parameters comprises a first framerate and the second set of parameters comprises a second frame rate, andthe first frame rate is different from the second frame rate.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasoundscan data, wherein: the ultrasound scan data is processed through anenhanced smoothing filter when the vertical dimension of the applicationwindow displayed on the screen is greater than the first thresholddimension; and the ultrasound scan data is processed through a regularsmoothing filter when the vertical dimension of the application windowdisplayed on the screen is less than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasoundscan data, wherein: the ultrasound scan data is processed through anenhanced speckle reduction process when the vertical dimension of theapplication window displayed on the screen is greater than the firstthreshold dimension; and the ultrasound scan data is processed through aregular speckle reduction process when the vertical dimension of theapplication window displayed on the screen is less than the firstthreshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause, when the vertical dimension is greater than thethreshold dimension and where the display of the complete ultrasoundimage scaled so that a full width of the displayed complete ultrasoundimage corresponds to a width of the application window results inunoccupied space in the application window, the display device todisplay additional information or user interface controls in theunoccupied space of the application window.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the display device to display in the applicationwindow: a first graphical user interface when the vertical dimension ofthe application window displayed on the screen is greater than the firstthreshold dimension; and a second graphical user interface when thevertical dimension of the application window displayed on the screen isless than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the display device to determine that theapplication window is in landscape mode and, in response thereto, scalethe ultrasound image so that the complete ultrasound image is displayed.

Further disclosed herein is an ultrasound scanning system comprising: anultrasound scanner; a display device connected to the ultrasoundscanner; and a computer readable medium in the display device comprisingcomputer readable instructions, which, when executed by a processorcause the display device to: determine a vertical dimension of anapplication window displayed on a screen to which an ultrasound scanneris connected, when the application window is in portrait mode; comparethe vertical dimension to a first threshold dimension; when the verticaldimension is greater than the threshold dimension, display a completeultrasound image on the application window, the complete ultrasoundimage scaled so that a full width of the displayed complete ultrasoundimage corresponds to a width of the application window; and when thevertical dimension is less than the first threshold dimension, display acropped ultrasound image in the application window scaled so that a fullheight of the cropped ultrasound image is displayed and at least oneside edge of the complete ultrasound image is not displayed.

In some embodiments, the complete ultrasound image is generated from aplurality of radial ultrasound signal lines, and each of the pluralityof radial ultrasound signal lines comprises image data at an imagingdepth, and wherein the full width of the displayed complete ultrasoundimage comprises image data at the imaging depth for the leftmost andrightmost radial ultrasound signal lines of the plurality of radialultrasound signal lines.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the display device to: prior to the comparing ofthe vertical dimension to the first threshold dimension, determinewhether the imaging depth of the ultrasound image is greater than athreshold imaging depth; wherein when the imaging depth of theultrasound image is greater than the threshold imaging depth, performthe comparing and subsequent steps; and when the imaging depth of theultrasound image is determined to be less than the threshold imagingdepth, scale the complete ultrasound image so that the full width of thecomplete ultrasound image corresponds to the width of the applicationwindow, and display the scaled complete ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause, when the vertical dimension is less than thefirst threshold dimension, the display device to: compare the verticaldimension to a second threshold dimension different from the firstthreshold dimension; when the vertical dimension is less than the secondthreshold dimension, display the cropped ultrasound image on theapplication window scaled so that a full height of the croppedultrasound image corresponds to the vertical dimension and at least oneside edge of the complete ultrasound image is not displayed; and whenthe vertical dimension is greater than the second threshold dimension,scale the displayed ultrasound image so that the full height of thedisplayed ultrasound image corresponds to the second thresholddimension.

In some embodiments, the complete ultrasound image displayed in theapplication window corresponds to the width of the application windowonly if the width of the application window is below a threshold width;and when the width of the application window is above the thresholdwidth, the complete ultrasound image is scaled and displayed so that thewidth of the displayed ultrasound image corresponds to the thresholdwidth.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasoundscan data, wherein: the ultrasound scan data is acquired using a firstset of parameters when the vertical dimension of the application windowdisplayed on the screen is greater than the first threshold dimension;and the ultrasound scan data is acquired using a second set ofparameters when the vertical dimension of the application windowdisplayed on the screen is less than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the first set of parameters comprises a firstnumber of ultrasound signal scan lines and the second set of parameterscomprises a second number of ultrasound signal scan lines, and the firstnumber of ultrasound scan lines is different from the second number ofultrasound signal scan lines.

In some embodiments, the first set of parameters comprises a first framerate and the second set of parameters comprises a second frame rate, andthe first frame rate is different from the second frame rate.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasoundscan data, wherein: the ultrasound scan data is processed through anenhanced smoothing filter when the vertical dimension of the applicationwindow displayed on the screen is greater than the first thresholddimension; and the ultrasound scan data is processed through a regularsmoothing filter when the vertical dimension of the application windowdisplayed on the screen is less than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the ultrasound scanner to acquire ultrasoundscan data, wherein: the ultrasound scan data is processed through anenhanced speckle reduction process when the vertical dimension of theapplication window displayed on the screen is greater than the firstthreshold dimension; and the ultrasound scan data is processed through aregular speckle reduction process when the vertical dimension of theapplication window displayed on the screen is less than the firstthreshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause, when the vertical dimension is greater than thethreshold dimension and where the display of the complete ultrasoundimage scaled so that a full width of the displayed complete ultrasoundimage corresponds to a width of the application window results inunoccupied space in the application window, the display device todisplay additional information or user interface controls in theunoccupied space of the application window.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the display device to display in the applicationwindow: a first graphical user interface when the vertical dimension ofthe application window displayed on the screen is greater than the firstthreshold dimension; and a second graphical user interface when thevertical dimension of the application window displayed on the screen isless than the first threshold dimension.

In some embodiments, the computer readable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the display device to determine that theapplication window is in landscape mode and, in response thereto, scalethe ultrasound image so that the complete ultrasound image is displayed.

Also disclosed is a method for adapting display of an ultrasound imageon a display device, the ultrasound image being generated fromultrasound signals transmitted and received by an ultrasound scanner,the method comprising: determining a physical distance traversed by theultrasound signals to generate the ultrasound image; determining atranslation ratio for translating the physical distance traversed by theultrasound signals to a corresponding physical distance on a screen ofthe display device, were the ultrasound image be fitted to an availablephysical area of the screen of the display device; if the determinedtranslation ratio is less than a minimum threshold translation ratio,generating a test ultrasound image at the minimum threshold translationratio, performing a cropping operation on the test ultrasound image togenerate a cropped test ultrasound image, and determining if the croppedtest ultrasound image fits the available physical area of the screen ofthe display device; if the cropped test ultrasound image does not fitthe available physical area of the screen of the display device, scalingthe cropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operationso that the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image is fitted to theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device; anddisplaying the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image within theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device.

In some embodiments, if the cropped test ultrasound image fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, displaying the cropped test ultrasoundimage in the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice.

In some embodiments, the cropping operation comprises: cropping the testultrasound image at a first crop ratio; if the test ultrasound imagecropped at the first crop ratio fits the available physical area of thescreen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,displaying the test ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio inthe available physical area of the screen of the display device; if thetest ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio does not fit theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device, then, priorto the scaling: further cropping the test ultrasound image cropped atthe first crop ratio, to generate the test ultrasound image cropped at asecond crop ratio; if the test ultrasound image cropped at the secondcrop ratio fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice for displaying the ultrasound image, displaying the testultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio in the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device; if the testultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio does not fit theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, providing the test ultrasound imagecropped at the second crop ratio as the cropped test ultrasound imagefor the displaying step subsequent to the scaling step.

In some embodiments, the method according to claim 1, wherein thecropping operation comprises: repeatedly: cropping the test ultrasoundimage at a test crop ratio, determining whether the test ultrasoundimage cropped at the test crop ratio fits the available physical area ofthe screen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,and if the test ultrasound image cropped at the test crop ratio fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, displaying the test ultrasound imagecropped at the test crop ratio in the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, for successively smaller test crop ratios,until a crop ratio limit is met; if the test ultrasound image cropped atthe crop ratio limit does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, providing the test ultrasound imagecropped at the crop ratio limit as the cropped test ultrasound imagegenerated from the cropping operation.

In some embodiments, the cropping operation comprises cropping the testultrasound image on at least one side edge of the test ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, the cropping operation comprises cropping the testultrasound image on a top edge of the test ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, when scaling the cropped test ultrasound image, themethod further comprises scaling the cropped test ultrasound imagegenerated from the cropping operation so that a vertical dimension ofthe scaled and cropped test ultrasound image substantially matches avertical dimension of the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device.

In some embodiments, when scaling the cropped test ultrasound image, anaspect ratio of the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image matches anaspect ratio of the ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, if the determined translation ratio is greater thanthe minimum threshold translation ratio, the method further comprises:determining whether the determined translation ratio exceeds a maximumthreshold translation ratio; if the determined translation ratio exceedsthe maximum threshold translation ratio, scaling the ultrasound image sothat the scaled ultrasound image has the maximum threshold translationratio; and displaying the scaled ultrasound image having the maximumthreshold translation ratio in the available physical area of the screenof the display device.

Also disclosed is a computer readable medium comprising computerreadable instructions which, when executed by a processor of a displaydevice that is communicably coupled to an ultrasound scanner, configurethe display device to: determine a physical distance traversed byultrasound signals that are transmitted and received by the ultrasoundscanner to generate an ultrasound image; determine a translation ratiofor translating the physical distance traversed by the ultrasoundsignals to a corresponding physical distance on a screen of the displaydevice, were the ultrasound image be fitted to an available physicalarea of the screen of the display device; if the determined translationratio is less than a minimum threshold translation ratio, generate atest ultrasound image at the minimum threshold translation ratio,perform a cropping operation on the test ultrasound image to generate acropped test ultrasound image, and determine if the cropped testultrasound image fits the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device; if the cropped test ultrasound image does not fit theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device, scale thecropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operation sothat the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image is fitted to theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device; and displaythe scaled and cropped test ultrasound image within the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device.

In some embodiments, if the cropped test ultrasound image fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, the processor configures the displaydevice to display the cropped test ultrasound image in the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, theprocessor further configures the display device to: crop the testultrasound image at a first crop ratio; if the test ultrasound imagecropped at the first crop ratio fits the available physical area of thescreen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,display the test ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio in theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device; if the testultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio does not fit theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device, then, priorto the scaling: further crop the test ultrasound image cropped at thefirst crop ratio, to generate the test ultrasound image cropped at asecond crop ratio; if the test ultrasound image cropped at the secondcrop ratio fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice for displaying the ultrasound image, display the test ultrasoundimage cropped at the second crop ratio in the available physical area ofthe screen of the display device; if the test ultrasound image croppedat the second crop ratio does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,provide the test ultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio asthe cropped test ultrasound image for the displaying step subsequent tothe scaling step.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, theprocessor further configures the display device to: repeatedly: crop thetest ultrasound image at a test crop ratio, determine whether the testultrasound image cropped at the test crop ratio fits the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device for displaying theultrasound image, and if the test ultrasound image cropped at the testcrop ratio fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice for displaying the ultrasound image, display the test ultrasoundimage cropped at the test crop ratio in the available physical area ofthe screen of the display device, for successively smaller test cropratios, until a crop ratio limit is met; if the test ultrasound imagecropped at the crop ratio limit does not fit the available physical areaof the screen of the display device, provide the test ultrasound imagecropped at the crop ratio limit as the cropped test ultrasound imagegenerated from the cropping operation.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, theprocessor further configures the display device to crop the testultrasound image on at least one side edge of the test ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, theprocessor further configures the display device to crop the testultrasound image on a top edge of the test ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, when scaling the cropped test ultrasound image, theprocessor configures the display device to scale the cropped testultrasound image generated from the cropping operation so that avertical dimension of the scaled and cropped test ultrasound imagesubstantially matches a vertical dimension of the available physicalarea of the screen of the display device.

In some embodiments, when scaling the cropped test ultrasound image, anaspect ratio of the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image matches anaspect ratio of the ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, if the determined translation ratio is greater thanthe minimum threshold translation ratio, the processor furtherconfigures the display device to: determine whether the determinedtranslation ratio exceeds a maximum threshold translation ratio; if thedetermined translation ratio exceeds the maximum threshold translationratio, scale the ultrasound image so that the scaled ultrasound imagehas the maximum threshold translation ratio; and display the scaledultrasound image having the maximum threshold translation ratio in theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device.

Also disclosed herein is an ultrasound scanning system comprising: anultrasound scanner configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signalsto generate an ultrasound image; a display device communicably coupledto the ultrasound scanner, the display device being configured to:determine a physical distance traversed by the ultrasound signals togenerate the ultrasound image; determine a translation ratio fortranslating the physical distance traversed by the ultrasound signals toa corresponding physical distance on a screen of the display device,were the ultrasound image be fitted to an available physical area of thescreen of the display device; if the determined translation ratio isless than a minimum threshold translation ratio, generate a testultrasound image at the minimum threshold translation ratio, perform acropping operation on the test ultrasound image to generate a croppedtest ultrasound image, and determine if the cropped test ultrasoundimage fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice; if the cropped test ultrasound image does not fit the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device, scale the croppedtest ultrasound image generated from the cropping operation so that thescaled and cropped test ultrasound image is fitted to the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device; and display thescaled and cropped test ultrasound image within the available physicalarea of the screen of the display device.

In some embodiments, if the cropped test ultrasound image fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, the display device is furtherconfigured to display the cropped test ultrasound image in the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, the displaydevice is further configured to: crop the test ultrasound image at afirst crop ratio; if the test ultrasound image cropped at the first cropratio fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice for displaying the ultrasound image, display the test ultrasoundimage cropped at the first crop ratio in the available physical area ofthe screen of the display device; if the test ultrasound image croppedat the first crop ratio does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, then, prior to the scaling: further cropthe test ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio, to generatethe test ultrasound image cropped at a second crop ratio; if the testultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio fits the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device for displaying theultrasound image, display the test ultrasound image cropped at thesecond crop ratio in the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device; if the test ultrasound image cropped at the second cropratio does not fit the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device for displaying the ultrasound image, provide the testultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio as the cropped testultrasound image for the displaying step subsequent to the scaling step.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, the displaydevice is further configured to: repeatedly: crop the test ultrasoundimage at a test crop ratio, determine whether the test ultrasound imagecropped at the test crop ratio fits the available physical area of thescreen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image, and ifthe test ultrasound image cropped at the test crop ratio fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, display the test ultrasound imagecropped at the test crop ratio in the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, for successively smaller test crop ratios,until a crop ratio limit is met; if the test ultrasound image cropped atthe crop ratio limit does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, provide the test ultrasound image croppedat the crop ratio limit as the cropped test ultrasound image generatedfrom the cropping operation.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, the displaydevice is further configured to crop the test ultrasound image on atleast one side edge of the test ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, when performing the cropping operation, the displaydevice is further configured to crop the test ultrasound image on a topedge of the test ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, when scaling the cropped test ultrasound image, thedisplay device is further configured to scale the cropped testultrasound image generated from the cropping operation so that avertical dimension of the scaled and cropped test ultrasound imagesubstantially matches a vertical dimension of the available physicalarea of the screen of the display device.

In some embodiments, when scaling the cropped test ultrasound image, anaspect ratio of the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image matches anaspect ratio of the ultrasound image.

In some embodiments, if the determined translation ratio is greater thanthe minimum threshold translation ratio, the display device is furtherconfigured to: determine whether the determined translation ratioexceeds a maximum threshold translation ratio; if the determinedtranslation ratio exceeds the maximum threshold translation ratio, scalethe ultrasound image so that the scaled ultrasound image has the maximumthreshold translation ratio; and display the scaled ultrasound imagehaving the maximum threshold translation ratio in the available physicalarea of the screen of the display device.

1. A method for adapting display of an ultrasound image on a displaydevice, the ultrasound image being generated from ultrasound signalstransmitted and received by an ultrasound scanner, the methodcomprising: determining a physical distance traversed by the ultrasoundsignals to generate the ultrasound image; determining a translationratio for translating the physical distance traversed by the ultrasoundsignals to a corresponding physical distance on a screen of the displaydevice, were the ultrasound image be fitted to an available physicalarea of the screen of the display device; if the determined translationratio is less than a minimum threshold translation ratio, generating atest ultrasound image at the minimum threshold translation ratio,performing a cropping operation on the test ultrasound image to generatea cropped test ultrasound image, and determining if the cropped testultrasound image fits the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device; if the cropped test ultrasound image does not fit theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device, scaling thecropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operation sothat the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image is fitted to theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device; anddisplaying the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image within theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein: if the cropped test ultrasoundimage fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice for displaying the ultrasound image, displaying the cropped testultrasound image in the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the croppingoperation comprises: cropping the test ultrasound image at a first cropratio; if the test ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio fitsthe available physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, displaying the test ultrasound imagecropped at the first crop ratio in the available physical area of thescreen of the display device; if the test ultrasound image cropped atthe first crop ratio does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, then, prior to the scaling: furthercropping the test ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio, togenerate the test ultrasound image cropped at a second crop ratio; ifthe test ultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, displaying the test ultrasound imagecropped at the second crop ratio in the available physical area of thescreen of the display device; if the test ultrasound image cropped atthe second crop ratio does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,providing the test ultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio asthe cropped test ultrasound image for the displaying step subsequent tothe scaling step.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein thecropping operation comprises: repeatedly: cropping the test ultrasoundimage at a test crop ratio, determining whether the test ultrasoundimage cropped at the test crop ratio fits the available physical area ofthe screen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,and if the test ultrasound image cropped at the test crop ratio fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, displaying the test ultrasound imagecropped at the test crop ratio in the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, for successively smaller test crop ratios,until a crop ratio limit is met; if the test ultrasound image cropped atthe crop ratio limit does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, providing the test ultrasound imagecropped at the crop ratio limit as the cropped test ultrasound imagegenerated from the cropping operation.
 5. The method according to claim1, wherein the cropping operation comprises cropping the test ultrasoundimage on at least one side edge of the test ultrasound image.
 6. Themethod of according to claim 1, wherein the cropping operation comprisescropping the test ultrasound image on a top edge of the test ultrasoundimage.
 7. The method of according to claim 1, wherein when scaling thecropped test ultrasound image, the method further comprises scaling thecropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operation sothat a vertical dimension of the scaled and cropped test ultrasoundimage substantially matches a vertical dimension of the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein when scaling the cropped test ultrasoundimage, an aspect ratio of the scaled and cropped test ultrasound imagematches an aspect ratio of the ultrasound image.
 9. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein if the determined translation ratio is greater thanthe minimum threshold translation ratio, the method further comprises:determining whether the determined translation ratio exceeds a maximumthreshold translation ratio; if the determined translation ratio exceedsthe maximum threshold translation ratio, scaling the ultrasound image sothat the scaled ultrasound image has the maximum threshold translationratio; and displaying the scaled ultrasound image having the maximumthreshold translation ratio in the available physical area of the screenof the display device.
 10. A computer readable medium comprisingcomputer readable instructions which, when executed by a processor of adisplay device that is communicably coupled to an ultrasound scanner,configure the display device to: determine a physical distance traversedby ultrasound signals that are transmitted and received by theultrasound scanner to generate an ultrasound image; determine atranslation ratio for translating the physical distance traversed by theultrasound signals to a corresponding physical distance on a screen ofthe display device, were the ultrasound image be fitted to an availablephysical area of the screen of the display device; if the determinedtranslation ratio is less than a minimum threshold translation ratio,generate a test ultrasound image at the minimum threshold translationratio, perform a cropping operation on the test ultrasound image togenerate a cropped test ultrasound image, and determine if the croppedtest ultrasound image fits the available physical area of the screen ofthe display device; if the cropped test ultrasound image does not fitthe available physical area of the screen of the display device, scalethe cropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operationso that the scaled and cropped test ultrasound image is fitted to theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device; and displaythe scaled and cropped test ultrasound image within the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device.
 11. The computerreadable medium according to claim 10, wherein if the determinedtranslation ratio is greater than the minimum threshold translationratio, the processor further configures the display device to: determinewhether the determined translation ratio exceeds a maximum thresholdtranslation ratio; if the determined translation ratio exceeds themaximum threshold translation ratio, scale the ultrasound image so thatthe scaled ultrasound image has the maximum threshold translation ratio;and display the scaled ultrasound image having the maximum thresholdtranslation ratio in the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device.
 12. An ultrasound scanning system comprising: anultrasound scanner configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signalsto generate an ultrasound image; a display device communicably coupledto the ultrasound scanner, the display device being configured to:determine a physical distance traversed by the ultrasound signals togenerate the ultrasound image; determine a translation ratio fortranslating the physical distance traversed by the ultrasound signals toa corresponding physical distance on a screen of the display device,were the ultrasound image be fitted to an available physical area of thescreen of the display device; if the determined translation ratio isless than a minimum threshold translation ratio, generate a testultrasound image at the minimum threshold translation ratio, perform acropping operation on the test ultrasound image to generate a croppedtest ultrasound image, and determine if the cropped test ultrasoundimage fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice; if the cropped test ultrasound image does not fit the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device, scale the croppedtest ultrasound image generated from the cropping operation so that thescaled and cropped test ultrasound image is fitted to the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device; and display thescaled and cropped test ultrasound image within the available physicalarea of the screen of the display device.
 13. The ultrasound scanningsystem according to claim 12, wherein: if the cropped test ultrasoundimage fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice for displaying the ultrasound image, the display device isfurther configured to display the cropped test ultrasound image in theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device.
 14. Theultrasound scanning system according to claim 12, wherein whenperforming the cropping operation, the display device is furtherconfigured to: crop the test ultrasound image at a first crop ratio; ifthe test ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio fits theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device fordisplaying the ultrasound image, display the test ultrasound imagecropped at the first crop ratio in the available physical area of thescreen of the display device; if the test ultrasound image cropped atthe first crop ratio does not fit the available physical area of thescreen of the display device, then, prior to the scaling: further cropthe test ultrasound image cropped at the first crop ratio, to generatethe test ultrasound image cropped at a second crop ratio; if the testultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio fits the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device for displaying theultrasound image, display the test ultrasound image cropped at thesecond crop ratio in the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device; if the test ultrasound image cropped at the second cropratio does not fit the available physical area of the screen of thedisplay device for displaying the ultrasound image, provide the testultrasound image cropped at the second crop ratio as the cropped testultrasound image for the displaying step subsequent to the scaling step.15. The ultrasound scanning system according to claim 12, wherein whenperforming the cropping operation, the display device is furtherconfigured to: repeatedly: crop the test ultrasound image at a test cropratio, determine whether the test ultrasound image cropped at the testcrop ratio fits the available physical area of the screen of the displaydevice for displaying the ultrasound image, and if the test ultrasoundimage cropped at the test crop ratio fits the available physical area ofthe screen of the display device for displaying the ultrasound image,display the test ultrasound image cropped at the test crop ratio in theavailable physical area of the screen of the display device, forsuccessively smaller test crop ratios, until a crop ratio limit is met;if the test ultrasound image cropped at the crop ratio limit does notfit the available physical area of the screen of the display device,provide the test ultrasound image cropped at the crop ratio limit as thecropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operation. 16.The ultrasound scanning system according to claim 12, wherein whenperforming the cropping operation, the display device is furtherconfigured to crop the test ultrasound image on at least one side edgeof the test ultrasound image.
 17. The ultrasound scanning systemaccording to claim 12, wherein when performing the cropping operation,the display device is further configured to crop the test ultrasoundimage on a top edge of the test ultrasound image.
 18. The ultrasoundscanning system according to claim 12, wherein when scaling the croppedtest ultrasound image, the display device is further configured to scalethe cropped test ultrasound image generated from the cropping operationso that a vertical dimension of the scaled and cropped test ultrasoundimage substantially matches a vertical dimension of the availablephysical area of the screen of the display device.
 19. The ultrasoundscanning system according to claim 12, wherein when scaling the croppedtest ultrasound image, an aspect ratio of the scaled and cropped testultrasound image matches an aspect ratio of the ultrasound image. 20.The ultrasound scanning system according to claim 12, wherein if thedetermined translation ratio is greater than the minimum thresholdtranslation ratio, the display device is further configured to:determine whether the determined translation ratio exceeds a maximumthreshold translation ratio; if the determined translation ratio exceedsthe maximum threshold translation ratio, scale the ultrasound image sothat the scaled ultrasound image has the maximum threshold translationratio; and display the scaled ultrasound image having the maximumthreshold translation ratio in the available physical area of the screenof the display device.